Massaging device



y 1929- H; HAS SLER 1,711,889

MASSAGING DEVICE Filed Sept. 20, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. 3o 27 Roan;- HHJSLEK.

ATTORNEYJ. I

R. H. HASSLER MASSAGING DEVICE May 7, 1929.

Fild Sept. 20, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVEN TOR. RQJEKT Irma-o2:

if/23 Wang A TTORNEYJ Patented May 7, 1929.

UNITED STATES ROBERT H. HASSLER, 0F INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA.

MASSAGING DEVICE.

Application filed September 20, 1926. Serial No. 136,421.

This invention relates to a motor driven massage machine for massaging, rubbing or manipulating the scalp of the human head.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a machine or mechanism of'this character whereby the power of an electric motor or other motive power is converted into a suitable rubbing or massaging action similar to that of the action of the human hands when vigorously applied to the head, -whereby the rotating action of the electric motor is converted into a purely reciproeating action and transmitted to a pair of oppositely and angularly disposed massaging pads.

I am aware that mechanism has previously been employed to drive pairs of oppositely disposed elements at a very obtuse angle to one another, but such mechanism has been adapted only to such obtuse or nearly flat angles, and would not form practical driving means for more acute angles. My peculiar driving mechanism is effective for angles that are sufficiently acute to enable the massaging elements to grip the sides of the head in the much desired manner. L

One feature of the invention resides in the arrangement of the mechanism whereby the reciprocating action transmittedto the massaging pads is applied in such a manner that they move in planes substantially tangential to the surface of the scalp and pa rallel to the driving mechanism. In this plane the two parts not only move in line with each other but in opposite directions and the reaction or thrust of one pad is thus neutralized bythe thrust of the other one. At the same time the pads occupy aposition in angular relation to each other so as to fit the contour of the head. The actuating mechanisms that drive the pads are also characterized by this same peculiar angular relationship to each other.

The arrangement of the parts of the mech anism, namely, the motor, the speed reducing and transmitting mechanism, massa ing pads, are so arranged with respect to each other as to form a symmetrical combination. The positions and cooperative motions thereof are in such relative relation as to effect a general shape or conformation of the whole device such as to give the desired balancing effect, thus tending toward eflicient operation of the device.

The full nature of the invention will be and the understood from the accompanying draw ings and the following description and claims.

Fig. 1 is a plan view looking down on the massaging device. Fig. 2 is an end elevation thereof, Fig. 3 is an end elevation showing the handle and massaging element in a horizontal plane. Fig. 4 is a front elevation showing a portion thereof broken away on ato each other as illustrated in Fig. 4. Positioned in the casing there is a horizontally extending motor driven shaft 18 having its free and mounted in a suitable end thrust bearing 14 secured in the housing 11. Mounted on the shaft 13 and keyed thereto, there is a worm 15 adapted to mesh with the worm gears 16 so asto cause the rotation thereof within the housing 11. It will be noted that the gears 16 are positioned in planes extending at an angle to each other and by reason of their being driven by a common worm, are rotated in opposite directions. Each of said gears is keyed to a shaft 17. Each of said shafts is provided with a reduced bearing surface 18 mounted in the bearings 19 formed of suitable bearing metal securely fitted in openings provided in the housing.

The lower end of the shaft is provided with a head 20 and eccentrically keyed to the annular rotating block 21 which is rotatably mounted in the driving block 2). to which is rigidly secured a driving arm 23 thereby providing a crank mechanism for imparting the desired reciprocating action.

The arm 23 extends below and exteriorally of the housing in the same plane as the gears 16 and has one end thereof secured to the driving pin 24 rotatably mounted in the bushing 25. Both the bushing 25 and the driving block 22 are formed of suitably impregnated wood for providing a bearing sur-- face, said bushing being mounted in the massaging element 26.

The massaging element is provided with a pair of guide pins 27 which are slidabl-y mounted in the barrel 28 secured to the under side of the housing whereby the movement of a the massaging element will be maintained'in ments in the machine are such as to cause the massaging elements to conform to the contour of the head so as to have a gripping action on each side thereof when the operator pulls downon the handles 12. When the massagingelements grip the sides ofthe head, the action is much more satisfactory than if they merely manipulate the top of the head. For

1 this reason, it is necessary to arrange the massaging elements at a very decided or acute angle to one another. Thus the mechanism is peculiarly adapted to drive the massaging pads when they are disposed toward one another atthese sharp or acute angles. The motor driven shaft 13 which is rotated at comparatively high speed will impart to the" angularly disposed gears 16 a rotary movement, the worm and gear drive therebetween being such as togive a substantial reduction in speed The gears arerotated in opposite directions and are angularly disposed to each other so as to provide adirect drive to the angularly disposed massaging elements. The driving blocks 21 being mounted on the shafts 17 set up eccentric or crank actions and will impart thru their crank mechanism a reciprocating motion to the arms 23 which in turn will impart to the massaging elements a corresponding reciprocating motion due to their being slidably mounted on the machine by the pins 27. The motion of the respective elements will be in opposite directions so that the thrust created thereby on the scalp will be neutralized. 7

By means of this construction a convenient and compact machine'of light weight is provided which will enable not only an operator to employ it to a scalp to be treated, but will also enable one to readily apply it to his own I seal for individual and personal treatment.

T e invention'claimed is:

1. In a massage machine, a plurality of anextending therethrough, a pair of massaging elements slidably mounted and angularly positioned with respect to each other, each of said elements extending in a plane parallel to the plane through its respective gear, and

means actuated by the rotation of said gears for imparting oppositely directed reciprocating motion to said massaging elements.

2. In a massage machine, a plurality of am gularly disposed rotatable driving members, means for rotating said members in angularly disposed lateralplanes, a pair of massaging elements slidably mounted in substantially the same vertical plane and angularly positioned with respect to each other therein,

, each of said elements extending in a lateral plane parallel to the plane thru its respective driving member, and means actuated by the rotation of said driving members for imparting oppositely directed reciprocating motion to said massaging elements.

3; In a massage machine, a driving member, a plurality of oppositely disposed driving gears adapted to rotate in planes extending at an angle to each other and simultaneously rotated by said member, eccentrics mounted on the respective shafts of said driv ing gears, armsconnecting said eccentrics with corresponding massaging elements slidably mounted on said machine so as to slide substantially parallel with the plane of rotation of said driving gears and simultaneously reciprocate in straight lines toward and from a central point in. the connection between said'driving member and gears.

4. In a massage machine, a driving shaft, a-

substantially parallel with the planes of saidgears, and arms connecting said eccentrics with said elements, whereby said elements will be caused to simultaneously reciprocatein straight lines toward and from a central point in the connectionbetween said shaft and gears.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto aflixed my signature.

ROBERT HASSLER. 

